Hello World! Welcome Friends! When you travel, you always need to have a plan and a checklist in place to ensure that you do not forget anything. However, when you are a parent, or have kids joining you on your trip, you need to take extra measures. Until the child reaches a certain age, you will need to take on the responsibility of managing their packing for them, and this adds on extra things to the list.
However, we are not just talking about ensuring they bring their toothbrush, underwear, pajamas, and a change of clothes. You also need to ensure they have everything they need for the trip. Is it going to be a long drive? Do you have snacks, books, games, or an iPad for them to stay entertained?
Traveling with kids is more complicated than making sure their suitcase is sorted. It’s a plan for the whole journey. A great place to travel with your kids Visit Lake Tahoe Things to do.
So, let’s give you the checklist you need.
Factors to Consider Before you Pack
What you need to pack depends entirely on the age of your child and the destination you are traveling to. Long journeys are challenging and so you will need to plan some activities to keep the kids entertained.
If you are just staying on the road, snacks, toys, and an iPad to get Netflix up on should do the trick. However, if you are flying it can be more challenging, especially if it is a long flight.
If you are going to be using technology to help your kids get through this, then you need to know how to choose a tablet for kids. Different age groups can have different tablets, however, you should always ensure that they are not spending too much time on them and that you are in control of their safety.
Checklist for Family Travels
What you need to pack and prepare when you are traveling with kids depends entirely on the age of the children and where you are going. Let’s break it down between older kids and younger kids.
Keep in mind that these lists are just for traveling and not for the actual holiday/ destination.
For Older Children
- Plastic/ paper bags for rubbish, or vomit in the case they get sick.
- Spare clothes in case there are any accidents, spills, or delays.
- Water (get some refillable drinks bottles).
- Snacks (healthier the better).
- Books, toys, games, and perhaps an iPad or something to watch movies on.
- Hand sanitizer.
- Wet wipes.
- Medication if required.
- A first aid kit.
For Younger Children and Babies
For younger children and babies, include the items on the list for older children and add in the following as well for extra measure. Consider the way your child acts at home, and add on extra drama on top of that, especially if this is the first time the child has travelled. With babies, it may be worth taking extra nappies than you anticipate.
With young children traveling for the first time, it is unknowable how they will react, so take everything you might need, then take extra. It is better to be safe than sorry.
- Blankets or wraps.
- Car seat and pram (if not available).
- Child’s favourite toy and/ or blanket.
- Nappies.
- Spare clothes (especially if your child is still toilet training).
- A suitable drinking container/ sippy cup if the child is very young or a baby.
- Bib.
Keep the Kids Entertained
Keeping kids entertained on long trips is about as easy as trying to tame a lion. You need to be on the ball and get creative with what you can do to keep the kids happy. Traveling as a family is so much more fun for kids, and easier and less stressful for you when the kids are entertained.
For babies and toddlers, take sturdy, hard books that can be wiped clean easily if any mess is made. Keep their toys in a bag and give them to the child as they travel, do not give them all at once, if they start fussing give them a different toy. Download audiobooks or borrow some talking books from your library, and also listen to some music that you and your child can enjoy.
For older children, play some car games, i-spy and so on. Take a screen with you, a tablet or iPad in the car, ensuring it is fully charged and stock-piled with movies. Take music of the child’s taste with you, or even make a family playlist for the journey. Consider taking games with you, sticker books, blank books for coloring and more activities. If you have more than one kid, pack multiple toys and books for every child, so everyone is happy.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Hosting The Perfect Dinner Party
Make Sure That Your Baby Is Always Comfortable
Things to Keep in Mind When Renovating Your Home
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